Sunday, May 18, 2014

It's been awhile since I posted anything but I was travelling for work in Seattle not too long ago and wanted to share my experiences.

Now, I hate eating out and like to cook my own food because I'm a health nut. That means every meal at a local restaurants is out of the question -- besides, it's not economical.

I bring a small MSR Microrocket stove and the MSR Trail Lite Duo cookware set when I travel and when I go camping. I like this setup a lot. It packs nicely and doesn't require a big footprint. The reviews I read were great, too. I found user reviews at backcountry.com, amazon.com, and cookwarenation.com.

The MSR is minimalist but has a big 2 liter pot. It is PFOA- and PTFE-free nonstick cookware that is ceramic. It is big enough to hold food for two and fit utensils when not being used.

It, also, has 2 insulated mugs. The extra mug is great if you don't travel solo but it is great even if you do travel solo. Here's why: The Micorocket stove, igniter, and a lighter will fit in one of the mugs. That means I keep one for storage of my stove and one to slurp out of.

The coffee strainer works perfect. The only thing I'm not a big fan of is the coffee lids being kinda tight but mine are still fairly new. Maybe in time they will loosen up with usage.

That's the gist of it. I like it. I also like that I made a nice dinner, including deep fried squid in my hotel room. Yeah, that probably wasn't the best for me (so much for the health nut in me). But it was worth it. I was at Pikes Peak Market and just had to buy some fresh fish there.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

When you love a book too much, you
could just picture the characters in real. Wouldn’t it be amazing
to actually see the places your favorite classic novels were set in,
or even written or conceived in? When you tire of looking for places
to visit based on their scenic beauty and hip new activities, why not
plan a trip to places where your favorite authors lived, breathed and
created masterpieces?

London, England

In a list of all the literary
hotspots around the world, nothing can beat the city of London.
London has seen more authors and writers to complete an entire
dictionary. From the classic authors to modern day literatures,
London is the home to many of the greatest authors of all times.

Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of
William Shakespeare gets thousands of visitors every day visiting to
pay homage to their favorite author. The house where Shakespeare
lived from has been turned into a museum for tourists. Besides,
visitors could also look into the Royal Shakespeare Company platform
and pay their respects to the author’s final resting place.

Another favored spot in London is
221B Baker Street, the alleged home of the world famous Detective
Character Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Beside
the house that is kept as a shrine to this character, visitlondon.com
has an itinerary for Sherlock Holmes fans to follow in the footsteps
of their favorite mastermind.

London is also the home to many
other celebrated classic authors, namely Charles Dickens, Jeffrey
Chaucer, John Keats, H. G. Wells and John Milton.

If you are a fan of the loveable spy
James Bond extraordinaire, the best place to visit might be the
Dukes’ Bar, where creator Ian Fleming was inspired to create the
character.

Dublin, Ireland

From Yeats to Homey, Dublin has been
the chief inspiration for many such celebrated poets and authors in
their creation, especially in James Joyce’s Ulysses and
Jonathon Swift’s A Modest Proposal.

Other sights to visit in this city
are the Dublin Writer’s Museum, the National Library of
Ireland and James Joyce’s Pub and House.

Edinburg, Scotland

According to the National
Geographic, Edinburg has inspired more than 500 celebrated novels
starting from 18th century poet Robert Burns to modern day
geniuses like Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall Smith.

The Writer’s Museum in the
city exhibits homage to the trio of Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns
and Robert Louie Stevenson.

New York, U.S.A

New York is the home to authors such
as Arthur Miller, Norman Mailer and John Ashbury. You can visit the
New York’s White Horse Tavern, where Allen Ginsberg and Jack
Kerouac used to spend their evenings. Interested visitors can take a
look at the New York Public Library’s huge collection of
books.

Concord, Massachusetts

The biggest literary spot of Concord
is the house where Louisa May Alcott wrote her loved-by-all classic
series ‘Little Women’. It was also the home of Nathaniel
Hawthorn and Ralph Waldo Emerson and their final resting place at the
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Paris, France

Paris was the home to French
literary giants such as Victor Hugo, Alexander Dumas and Voltaire as
well as refuge to American authors like Gertrude Stein, F.
Scott FitzGerald and Ernest Hemmingway. The famous book stall along
the Seine and the Les Deux Magots café were frequently
visited by Hemmingway and Albert Camus.

The ‘Hemmingway Paris Walk’ runs
every Friday along a ruin of literary historical site of Joyce,
Hemmingway, Balzac and Orwell.

Rome, Italy

Rome was the home to the author of
The Aeneid, Vigil. Beside, Rome also inspired some of the most
famous authors of all time: Keats, Shelly and James to name a few.

Keats and Shelly’s home on Rome’s
historical Spanish Steps, attract thousands of poets, visitors
and fans alike from all around the world.

St. Petersburg, Russia

Years ago, St. Petersburg was the
home to celebrated authors such as Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov,
Alexander Pushkin and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky lived in a number
of houses around the city during his time, and the last house he
lived in, has been turned into a museum to honor his memory.

Dostoevsky wrote his celebrated
novel, The Brothers Karamazov, in this house.

Prince Edward’s Island, Canada

If you loved the Anne of Green
Gables Series in your childhood, you will love a tour of the Haunted
Wood and the trails walked by Anne in the stories.

If you are on a spree, there are
some other literary locations that every reader should visit: Mark
Twain’s House and Museum in Hartford, CT; Ernest Hemmingway’s
House and Museum in Oak Park, IL; Oscar Wilde’s childhood house in
Dublin, Ireland; the Emily Dickenson Museum in Amherst, MA; Leo
Tolstoy’s home in Russia; the O’ Henry House and Museum in
Austin, TX; Margaret Mitchell’s Home and Museum in Atlanta, GA; the
Bronte Personage Museum, West Yorkshire, England; Charles Dickens’
Museum in London, England; and many more.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

What is one of the most important
facets of travel? No doubt the vote will be unanimous. Beside the
excitement of visiting a new country and meeting new people, tasting
the unique cuisine of a country is as important as any other
activities. In this era of globalization, international cuisines have
crossed the borders of their respective countries to fall in the
hands, or rather mouths, of everybody. Still, there is no greater
thrill than to visit a country and to taste their different cuisines,
in the way they are cooked in their own environment.

When voting on the different
cuisines around the world, Italy comes in the first position, no
doubt. The native cuisine of Italy – pizza, pasta and spaghetti may
have originated in Italy, but have made its place among the favorites
of almost all countries of the world long, long time ago. A
satisfying cuisine based on carbohydrates, tangy sauces, cheese,
vegetables and meat, Italian food is fulfilling to the stomach and a
wholesome meal for the whole family. The specialty of Italian food is
in its sauces cooked in olive oil, and the various pizza toppings of
mozzarella cheese, meat, basil, jalapeno and olives.

The new favorite cuisine of the
world at the moment is Indian Food with its spicy and tangy curries,
vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. A country of many cultures in
itself, India boasts of a multitude of different cuisines which
include both vegetarian delicacies as the Dosa, Dhokla and Pau-bhaji,
as well as the various hot and spicy chicken and mutton curries.
Besides, Indian cuisine also includes different types of street-food
and desserts. Indian food is currently a favorite at many western
countries, especially in the US and the UK, in top Indian restaurants
run by Indian chefs.

Tacos, Quesadillas, Nachos, and
Enchiladas – the names alone are mouth-watering. The world’s
another favorite, Mexican cuisine is a mixture of spicy, tangy,
sweet, salty and almost all sorts of flavors to the taste buds, all
in one bite. Mexican Cuisines focus mainly on tomato sauce and ground
beef, and is one of the spiciest foods in the world. You have to have
a strong stomach to take in all the hot stuff that are included in
Mexican food.

Chinese cuisine had taken the world
by storm a few decades ago, the first of Asian Cuisine to cross the
borders and step in as one of the favorites of the world. Chinese
cuisine is not only incredibly tasty, but also healthy and easy on
the digestive system. As the main dish of China is rice, the cuisine
is centered mainly around various preparations of fried rice, as well
as noodles, dumplings, spring rolls and soup. Other countries have to
some extent tempered with Chinese recipes to accommodate their own
stomach and taste, but still today, there are a few restaurants,
especially in the Chinatown areas of UK and USA, that use the
original recipes.

Sushi, originated in Japan, is
different from any other cuisine around the world. Japan is an
extremely health conscious country, and their cuisine also reflects
their belief in this manner. The ever popular preparations of
tempura, sushi, teriyaki and miso soup belonging to Japanese cuisine
is thus, easy to digest and contains a balance of rice, fruits,
vegetables and seafood.

French food is versatile and light,
and very easy for the stomach to digest. Top restaurants in France
are a hub of culture and dining as they serve some of the best
six-course meals of the world. From champagne to cheese to desserts,
the French believe in perfection and their cuisine is delicate and
prepared in an artistic way to satisfy the eye as well as the
stomach. French cuisine specializes in over a hundred types of cheese
and bread, each with their own characteristics.

The cuisine of United States is
basically a mixture of cuisines from all around the world, from the
heavy Mexican and Indian dishes to delicately prepared Japanese and
French delicacies. Some of the old and traditional dishes of the
States include clam chowder, key lime pie and Cobb Salad, although in
recent times, Americans prefer a combination of dishes that have over
the years been evolved to fit their own taste and preferences. For
example, cheeseburger and hamburgers originating in Germany, French
fires from Belgium and pizza from Italy.

Thai cuisines are incredibly complex
and each simple preparation generally requires as many as 15 to 20
ingredients that give the dishes a salty, spicy, tangy, sour taste.
Thai cuisine has influences of dishes from China, Malaysia, Indonesia
and Myanmar, making their recipes complex yet unique.

Spanish cuisine requires a number of
exotic spices for preparation, including rare spices such as saffron,
cumin and honeyed sweets, making their dishes like no other in the
world. Their main focus is one seafood and meat, prepared delicately
and presented in an artistic manner.

Indonesian Cuisine has the most
diverse food in the world, divided among their 18,000 islands and
thousands of cultures. The dishes are not harmful to the body, and
prepared keeping health and well-being in mind, and there’s no end
to the variety of taste that they offer.

Tasting the local cuisine is one of
the most important, if not the most important part of travelling.
Local delicacies and cuisines are a way to open a culture in the mind
of the traveler that nothing else can.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

It’s that magical time for the
lovebirds after the hustles and bustles of a wedding and you can
finally be alone together, at last. Away from prying eyes and endless
formalities, the honeymoon is truly one of the most beautiful times
of every couple’s life. To make this mysterious time even more
enchanting, what’s better than to roam around, hand in hand, along
some of the most beautiful and enthralling places of the world?

The definition of honeymoon is
extremely varied these days, and differs mostly with each couple, the
period of break they can manage, and most importantly, the financial situation. If you have ended spending too much on the wedding itself, you can try various methods get money over the next few weeks to get your honeymoon back
on track. But if you are one of those couples who deem the wedding
ceremony as just a function and don’t bother with it that much,
it’s possibly a good idea to plan a long and possibly a luxurious
honeymoon to start your life together in a grand way.

Your honeymoon can be any way you
plan it out. It can be the traditional beach resort honeymoon suite
with a heat-shaped bed and rose petals, or a wild safari in the
desserts of Africa; an array of extreme sports like scuba diving and
bungee jumping, or a troll around the ancient rubbles of Egypt and
Italy.

Here’s a list of the world’s
favorite and most popular honeymoon destinations to give you an idea.

France - the name is synonymous with
the word ‘romance’. For generations, lovebirds have cherished the
idea of strolling along the ancient cobblestone roads of Paris with
their loved ones, dining at the roadside cafes and lounging on the
beaches of Normandy. Culture, history, romance, exquisite food and
wine – France has everything to offer people in love for that
special time of their lives.

If you are a food lover out to taste
some of the most delicious cuisines of the world, then Italy is your
dream destination. There is practically nothing comparable to the
authentic pizzas and pastas, wine and bread of good old Italy. A
gondola ride with your spouse, throwing coins in the wishing well and
praying for a future together, secluded mountain villas of Tuscany –
these are what dreams - and romantic movies – are made off.
Besides, if you happen to be a fashionista, then Milan will
definitely be a favorite.

When you are into scenic beauty and
beaches, then Bali, Indonesia is the answer. The perfect, peaceful
harmony of the beach, watching the sunset together with a glass of
wine in your hand, and taking in the breathtaking scenery of the
magnificent island – doesn’t that sound romantic? Later, if you
tire of the peace and quiet, there are a few activities like white
water rafting and volcanic trips for couples to try.

If you decide to plan your honeymoon
on a truly grand style, take a whole month out for a trip around
Europe. Savor the scenic beauty of Switzerland, roam around the
castles and forts of Germany, shop in the fashion capitals of the
world, hike and camp at the beautiful mountain ranges of Spain, taste
exquisite old world cuisines of Sicily – make your honeymoon a trip
to remember and cherish forever.

If it’s romance on your mind, the
beaches of Bahamas, Philippines, Maldives and Hawaii are yours to
choose from. Beaches bring out the old romantics in a person; and
what’s better than to walk hand in hand in the white sandy beaches
whilst the waves crash on your feet? There’s a reason the classics
ideas are still the best options for some.

If you are short on time and you need money now to fund this honeymoon, never fear! There are
some great honeymoon destinations around the home base. Try Hawaii if
it is beaches you want, or the ranches of Colorado, the hustle and
bustle of New York City, the wine country of Napa Valley, California
or the cozy boutique hotels of Vermont. Best part of the deal – no
passports and no money conversion!

If you are looking for something
exotic and different than the rest, your answers lie in the Bangkok
Tree Houses of Thailand, in the Amazon Reserves of Peru, in the
boho-gypsy houses of Kenya, or in the ruins of Belize, Mexico.

When you have dreamt of your perfect
honeymoon since as long as you have dreamt about your wedding, pick a
retreat paradise from the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Tobago, or Oahu,
Lanai or Big Island of Hawaii – exotic locations and mesmerizing
beaches to pull the romantic out of you.

With adventure on your mind and your
loved one by your side, take a pick of the adventures of a road trip
around New Zealand, or bike around the Netherlands, or plan a
helicopter trip of Hawaii, a walking safari in Zambia, or a cruise in
the Amazon River in Peru.

But wait a minute! It’s your
honeymoon, and the main point of the trip is to spend some time with
your partner before busy life engulfs you both. Wherever in the world
you chose to spend your honeymoon in, being with the most special
person in your life makes it heaven.

Monday, February 17, 2014

When it comes to fashion, the
fashionistas know exactly where to look. What other experience can be
better in life than to tour the world of fashion, literally speaking.
With a credit card in one hand, and a map to the stores in another –
this is indeed what dreams are made of – at least the dream of the
fashion hunters.

When you are looking to try out the
latest and the best in fashion, a few names pop in the head
immediately – Paris, Milan, New York, London! Besides being some of
the oldest cities of the world rich in culture and art, these
magnificent cities also offer tourists and inhabitants a unique
shopping experience all year round.

London

International and bold designer
boutiques like the Liberty Department Store on Regent Street and
Harrod’s in Knightbridge are what set London apart from any other
shopping districts experiences anywhere else. However, shopping in
London, just like everything else in London, is very expensive and is
likely to leave a permanent damage to your bank balance – but if
you have the will and the way, it will indeed be an experience to
remember.

Dubai

From the old to the new, and more
specifically, to gold. If you are a fan of gold jewelry. Then Dubai
is definitely the place for you to try. Besides, the Burjuman
Shopping Center in Dubai gives you an opportunity to browse your
favorite brands in the world – Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior and
Tiffany to name a magical few.

The Dubai Mall is the largest
shopping center in the area, complete with theme parks, waterfalls
and ice rinks and aquariums, beside housing top brands such as
Galaries Lafayette of Paris and the first Bloomingdale’s outside
the United Kingdom.

Paris

Home of world famous brands such as
Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Dior, Paris also offers small designer
boutiques to explore and discover from in the vintage Marais and
along the streets of Rue St. Honore.

New York

In the Big Apple, you have the
freedom to hop down Broadway and Fifth Avenue to look at other world
famous department stores that we have all heard of – Bergdorf’s
and Sak’s and Macy’s and Bloomingdales; or head over to the West
Village for smaller yet unique boutiques. Nowhere in the world will
you see every one – and by everyone, we mean from the old to the
young – strutting around in designer clothes like it is the most
normal thing in the world.

Milan

Milan – home of art and fashion
alike, gave the world famous brand designers such as Prada, Versace
and D&G to name a few.

The streets of the city are filled
with antique jewelry, boutiques and lifestyle shops great for an
afternoon of window shopping.

Tokyo

A new addition to the list, the
residents of Tokyo, Japan are as obsessed with brands and fashion as
the rest of the world. Retailer boutiques such as Uniqlo, Boutiqu W
and Side by Side are the top department stores that house outfits
from top designer brands of the world as well as works of local
emerging artists. In Shinjuku, the global chain store with its eight
separate building stretching across two blocks, sells everything from
outfits to electronics all round the clock.

Madrid

The capital of Spain, Madrid has
given the world top designer brands such as Adidas, H&M and
Loewe. Besides, there are some international standard local favorites
such as Agatha Ruiz de la Prada and Desigual to browse through.

Singapore

Orchard Boulevard in Singapore City
and the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore house some of the most
cherished designer brands of the world, and is frequented by visitors
all through the year, but specially around Christmas and New Year.
Besides for retailer shopping at a lower budget, the indigenous
markets of Chinatown and Little India are also quite famous.

Mustafa Center in Singapore City is
one of the favorite shopping malls of locals and tourists alike, open
24/7 selling everything from vegetables to crackers, bags to
electronics.

Seoul

According to CNN, Seoul,
South Korea literally has an addiction to shopping, with the highest
number of credit card transactions recorded in 2011. From designer
boutiques to small vintage shops to hawkers, the favorite pastimes of
Seoul seem to be shopping alone.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is the dining and shopping
capital of the world, with something to offer for every type of
shoppers and food-enthusiasts. Malls and departmental stores are
spread across the entire city, boasting of signature brands selling
clothing, leather goods, antiques, watches and jewelry.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab
that passport and wallet and head for the nearest shopping district
there is, just for the sake of browsing and looking if your wallet
cannot take the load. Be sure to look for the nearest sale or
discount festivals so that your precious dollars can buy you more
than you are hoping for.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

I'm planning a vacation with my family. I've been researching and researching and perusing brochures for a country to visit. In my research, I came up with a short list of the hottest festivals around the world for travelling. Enjoy the trip around the world.

Carnival in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

The Carnival in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil is dated back to 1723 when the immigrants from the Portuguese Islands of Acores, Madeira and Cobo Verde introduced it. A week long party of extravagant parades, dancing, colors, and drinking makes this one of the most exciting events of the world.
The initial idea of the Carnival was to get everybody soaking wet. People would huddle in the streets with water and lime, and everybody would be wet in minutes. It usually happens in the peak of the summer, and all over the country.

Chinese New Year, Hong Kong

The Chinese New Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and usually falls in February, lasting usually for 15 days. Asia’s world city welcomes the Year of the Dragon with colorful flower markets, mesmerizing fireworks, a dazzling night parade, bustling temples, lively sports events, and much more.

At the New Year Celebrations, people wear red clothes; give children ‘lucky money’ in red envelopes and light firecrackers. Everything is red because the Chinese believes that red is fire and fire drives away bad luck. The festival ends with a lantern festival where people hang decorated lanterns in temples and carry lanterns to the night parade.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans, USA

Mardi gras, or as it means in English, ‘Fat Tuesday’ and ‘Carnival Season’, is the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty food, before the ritual of Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday.
Popular traditions of the festival includes wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, sports, competitions, parades, and others.

New Year’s Celebrations in Sydney Harbor, Australia

The New Year’s Celebration in Sydney Harbor is an annual festival held on New Year over Harbor Bridge in Sydney. There is usually two fireworks display, the 9pm fireworks and the midnight firework show. It is the world’s favorite way to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

Oktoberfest in Germany is the most famous beer festival in Germany where over 6 million visitors join to get drunk every year. It is a 16-day festival that start in late-September to the first week of October. Locally, it is known as Wiesn, and is an important part of the Bavarian culture, having held since 1810.
Visitors also enjoy a mixture of amusement rides, sidetalls and games, and a variety of traditional food, such as Hendl, Wurslt, Knodel and Obatzda.

La Tomatina in Bunol, Spain

Held in the Valencian city of Bunol, the La Tomatina festival is where the participants throw tomatoes at each other and pick tomato fights just as fun. It is held on the last Wednesday of August every year.

The Festival of San Fermin, Spain

The nine-day festival held in Spain attracts thousands of visitors to Pamplona, Spain and includes a carnival, bullfights and the very famous event of ‘Running with the Bulls’. This festival began in the 1590s, and is an extremely popular, though controversial, festival.

Holi, the Festival of Color, India

Holi is an ancient festival celebrated by the Sikhs and in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. It is also known as the ‘Festival of Colors’, and it is literally one of the most colorful festivals in the world.
On the eve of Holi, Hindus dress in their finest clothes and watch a bonfire. On the day of Holi, the color festival takes place. People celebrate it with splashing themselves and everyone else on the streets with colorful powder dyes. Everyone is invited to join in the festival.

Diwali in Amritsar, India

Also known as the Festival of Lights, the Diwali Celebrations in Amritsar, India, families and friends get together to celebrate with sweets, gifts and feasts. Families light up their houses and light fireworks, and decorate their homes with flowers and draw ‘Rangoli’ on their doorsteps, an intricate design on the floor made with colorful rice flour.

Full moon Party, Haad Din, Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand

Haad Din is the night life capital of Thailand and has the largest concentration of beach clubs in the country. During the Full Moon Party, more than 20,000 to 30,000 travelers attend this festival. Beside partying all night, vacationers can enjoy wild activities such as fire rope jumping.

Love Festival, Germany

The Love Parade in Germany was celebrated from 1989-2003 and 2006-2010 and included loud electronic music, costumes and overall ‘let-lose’ behavior. Due to the tragic death of 21 participants by trampling, the festival was cancelled permanently.